{"id":730,"date":"2014-01-08T01:06:38","date_gmt":"2014-01-07T23:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lync2013.org\/?p=730"},"modified":"2014-05-07T10:26:09","modified_gmt":"2014-05-07T10:26:09","slug":"put-ring-every-year-many-people-fit-mvp-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modern-workplace.uk\/?p=730","title":{"rendered":"Put a Ring on It (Every Year) \u2013 Why Many People Are Not Fit For The MVP Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the past three years, an awful number of people approached me with various versions of the same question: \u201cHow do I get an MVP award on my “whatever” expertise? \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rings\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although what I am going to say is not new in any way, maybe writing the same story in a different way may help someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a01. You are (really) starting in the wrong way<\/strong><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

Information about the MVP award is public and easy to find. If you are asking to an MVP how to obtain the award, it means you have not searched information by yourself (bad start, maybe you are not interested enough) or that you think there are some hidden secrets to become an MVP (even worse scenario, you think you are going to talk with a band of liars).<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a02. The MVP award is all about helping a community<\/strong><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

You have to do things that make sense to help a LARGE number of people or, at least, to add value for a specific group of professionals. Again, it is something that everybody should have understood, at this point. If you are interested in helping (and interacting with) other IT Pros or developers, if you like a Microsoft product and have fun talking about it and sharing your findings, you are already on the right way.<\/span><\/p>\n

All I can suggest here is to find the tool that best fits to you to relate with the community you like. Blogs, webcasts, forums, conferences… it is like a long list.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a03. Good contents are required<\/strong><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

An MVP should be like a warranty of quality, if he\/she is involved in an activity with his\/her community.\u00a0GOOD is not a synonym of NEW.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes I really love the MVPs that organize and filter existing information so that I am able to find them in a simple manner. New stuff is great but there are so many sources out there, that a good post that summarizes them is invaluable more than a ton of “new” articles that may all be talking about the same topic again and again and again.<\/span><\/p>\n

It should never be forgotten the contribution of MVPs who respond in the various forums or that collaborate on the TechNet Wiki. Helping members of a community to find existing resources they need to solve a problem is absolutely a great way to show your commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a04. Focus: you are requiring to be recognized as an expert<\/strong><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ok, I am NOT the right one to talk about this point, I like to deepen on more than a single subject at a time (and, in a second time, I put the pieces together to build a bigger picture). However, an MVP is usually an expert on a single, specific product, so it is easier to pull away from the pack focusing on a single field, rather than stretching yourself too thin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a05. Numbers are part of the game<\/strong><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

To receive an MVP you will be weighted, you will be measured and maybe you will be found absolutely wanting (quoting A Knight’s Tale).<\/span><\/p>\n